Awning box lid operating mechanism



July 17, 1956 E. P. D'AZZO AWNING BOX LID OPERATING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1952 July 17, 1956 E. P. D'Azzo 2,755,082

AWNING BOX LID OPERATING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

United States Patent 9 AWNING BOX LID OPERATING MEfiHANISM Errol P.DAzzo, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 22, 1952, fierial No. 322,6)35

Claims. (Cl. 268-74) This invention relates to an improved operatingmechanism for opening and closing. lids or closures for awning housingboxes, and one of its objects is to provide an operating. mechanismwhich can be installed with a mini mum number of workmen and at thelowest practical cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lid or box closureoperating mechanism which will provide a greater opening movement of thelid or closure than is now possible, and permit of the location of thegear mechanism well below the main operating shaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lid or boxclosure operating mechanism with a main shaft, lever arms mounted on themain shaft to swing with the same, brace bars pivotally connected withthe lever arms to stiffen the extruded or formed metal lid or closure,and a gear mechanism for rocking the main shaft in both directions,which has driving connection with the main shaft through a lever armmounted on its own main shaft, and a link bar having pivotal connectionwith this lever arm of the gear mechanism and with another lever armmounted on and secured to the first main shaft, the whole being soarranged that mechanism motion is transmitted from the shaft of the gearmechanism, which can be located below the main operating shaft, andadapted to permit of variations in leverage between the gear mechanismand the main operating shaft, without changing the ratio of the gearmechanism.

With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnew and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts,clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustratedin the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an awning housing box,showing the lid in closed position.

Fig. 1A is a detail side elevation of a crank arm.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the lid in raised position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, before the lid has been mounted inposition, a portion being broken. away for convenience.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, showing the connection between apivotal lid brace and the lower end of the lid.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, enlarged, showing one side of the adjustableclamp for supporting. the worm gear in any favored angular position, andFig. 5A shows the other side of theadjustable clamp.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the hanger for the lid andthe detachable and pivotal brace connection therewith.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the adjustable clamp construction.

Fig. 9 is a detail prospective view showing one of the interlocking jawsof the clamp.

Fig. 1.0 is a detail plan view of a companion jaw.

Fig. 11- is a detail side elevation of a clamp jaw.

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Fig. 12 is a detail end view of a spring shaft retainer for the shaftbracket.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the practicalembodiment of my invention, 10 designates an awning housing box having avertical back wall 11, a top or ceiling wall 12, and a bottom wall 13.Within this box, which is constructed with an open front side 14, theusual awning winding and unwinding roller 15 is mounted, and a worm gearmechanism 16 provided for operating the same.

The top or ceiling wall 12 is equipped with a plate 17, having a downturned forward edge 17a, spaced forwardly of the front edge of the topor ceiling wall. Below this pendant edge 17a a main operating shaft 18is supported in place by means of U-shaped bearing hangers 19, mountedby base plates 19a and bolts 20 to the top or ceiling wall 12. Each ofthe bearing hangers 19 is constructed so that the shaft 18 may be placedhorizontally above a series of similar hangers mounted in straight lineformation on the top wall 12, and then lowered into the U-shaped shaftseats 1% of these hangers. The shaft 18 is thereby supported below theplane of the top wall 12 and forwardly of the front side of the box.

On the shaft 18 a plurality of similar lid raising. and lowering arms 21are mounted on the shaft by means of their integral hubs 22 and the setscrews 23, threaded through the hubs against the shaft 18. Each arm isformed with a cast overlying curved portion 24, which is moulded andintegral with the downwardly extending lever arm 25, which in a closedposition, extends well below the horizontal plane of the main shaft 18.

A moulded or formed metal lid or closure plate 26, having a slopingupper portion 26a, is attached thereby to the overlying integral arm 24,of each lid raising and lowering arm, by means of the screws orfasteners 27, extended into the overlying arm 24. The moulded or formedcover or lid plate 26 is then arched outwardly in a convex curve at 28,and slanted inwardly and rear- Wardly and provided on its lower end withan approximately horizontal flange 29, having a terminal upset orvertical edge 29a.

The forward side of the lever 25 is also slanted rearwardly anddownwardly in spaced relation to the arched lid or cover plate 26, andreduced in diameter or thickness at its lower end. This lever arm isformed with a flat seat 30, and with an undercut lip or jaw 31, spacedlengthwise from the fiat seat 30. The upper end of the flat brace bar 32is pivotally secured by the screw or rivet 33 to the flat seat and isprovided with a curved and bevelled upper end 34, which is designed tohave interfitting engagement with the undercut lip or jaw 31, when thebrace bar 32 is swung to lengthwise relation. on the lever arm 25, andwhen this is done, the brace bar 32 will be held against pivotalmovement.

The lower end of the brace bar 32 is provided with a lateral finger 32a,which seats on the flange 29, and this finger is secured to the flangeby means of the screw 3215. When this is done the lid or cover platewill be rigidly secured to the lever arms 25, so that the lid or coverplate will swing freely with the lever arms. The number of lever arms 25used depends on the length of the lid or cover plate, which may be asmuch or more than thirty feet horizontally.

On one end of the main operating shaft 13 a lever arm 35 is mounted bymeans of its integral hub 36 and the set screw 37 threaded through thishub against the shaft 18.

The lever arm 35 normally extends rearwardly and the upper end of a pulland push link 36a is pivotally connected to the rear end of the leverarm 35 by the pin or bolt 37a. The lower end of the pull and push link36:: is pivotally connected at its lower end to the upper end of thelever arm 38, mounted on the drive shaft 39 of the lower worm gearmechanism 40. The drive shaft 39 carries the usual worm gear 41,enclosed by the housing box 42, and this gear wheel is turned by meansof the worm 43 mounted on the shaft 44, which extends downwardly andforwardly for manual operation.

When the lever arm 38 of the gear drive shaft 39 is caused to swingdownwardly and forwardly the link 36 is forced downwardly and forwardly,and the upper lever arm 35 is forced downwardly, thereby rocking themain operating shaft 18 to cause all of the lever arms 25 to lift thelid or cover plate, to the position shown in Fig. 2, by continuedoperation of the gear mechanism 40.

The lever arms 35 and 38 are shown to be approximately equal, but it isunderstood that the lever arm 38 may be longer than the lever arm 35, sothat a greater swinging movement may be imparted to the lid or coverplate 26.

This mechanism permits the mounting of the gear mechanism below the mainoperating shaft 18 and well to the rear of the awning housing box, sothat there is no internal obstruction to the opening of the lid or coverplate. It also relieves the gear mechanism of a direct load thrust uponit, due to the cooperating lever arms and connecting link.

Any differential movement between the manual shaft 44 and the lever arm38 may be used, by changing the gear ratio between the worm and the wormgear wheel, either to increase this ratio or to reduce it, withoutaltering the lengths and ratio of the lever arms and the link. Thecomplete mechanism, therefore, provides for variation of the leveragesin the lever and link system and variation of gear ratio in gearmechanism, or both.

With my improved equipment two men can do the work now required for fouror even six men. The hangers are first mounted in place, the crank orlever arms 25 are positioned on the shaft 18, and then this shaftcarrying the spaced lever arms 25 is mounted on the hangers. The longextruded or formed lid or cover plate is then attached to the lever arms25, and the brace bars are swung from lateral or angular positions, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to straight line positions, and theirlower ends are coupled to the flanged end of the cover or lid plate, asshown in Fig. 4. At any stage of the operation the gear mechanism may beinstalled and the link connected to the lever arms 35, previouslyattached to the main shaft 18, and then to the lever arm 38 of the gearmechanism.

This construction also permits the use of a less eztpcn sive gearmechanism, because part of the work done is performed by the lever andlink system.

It is understood that various changes in the arrangement andconstruction of details, their combination and mounting may be made incarrying out the invention in various installations, within the scope ofthe invention, as defined by the claims hereof.

In order to retain the shaft 13 in its U-shaped bearings when this shaftis rocked to lift the lid 28, each U-shaped bearing is equipped with aspring retainer. The bearing 19b is formed with an integral hook 19d,which is engaged by the forward cross bar 19c of the spring 195. Thisspring is provided with arched side bars 19] and 19g, each of which isformed with a spring coil 1%, and the two spring coils are connected toeach other by means of the cross bar 19 shown in Fig. 14. The cross bar19 is placed under the bearing arm 19 and the cross bar 1% is forcedover and under the hook 19d. As the arched side bars 19 and 19g ovcriiethe shaft 18 any tendency of this shaft to leave its bearings when it isrocked will be prevented by the spring side bars 19f and 19g.

Each worm gear mechanism is provided with a stud shaft 56, on one sidethereof. Each shaft is engaged by a clamp which is shown in Figs. 5, A,8, 9, and ll.

Referring to these figures, a base housing is indicated at 50, which isshown to be provided with a base attaching flange 51. The housingextends at right angles to this base flange, and is provided withparallel side walls 52 and 53, which are spaced apart to receive the bar54, which is formed with transverse holes 540 and 54b, spacedlongitudinally from each other and centrally of the side edges of thebar 54. A bolt 540 is extended through the side walls 52 and 53, andthrough one of the holes of the bar 54, and the nut 54d is threaded onthis bolt to secure the bar 54 in place.

he outer end of the bar 54 is formed with an integral crescent shapedcross bar 55, the inner side of which is formed arcuate and providedwith internal teeth 55a to grip the stub shaft 56. One end of this bar54 is formed with a straight edge 55b, non-radial to the center of thearcuate inner side and the center of the stub shaft 56. The other sideof this arm is provided with diagonal faces 55c and 55d, which areformed only on one side of the arm. On the other side of the arm asingle diagonal face 552 is formed.

The integral cross bar 55 is engaged by a detachable clamp member 60,which is provided with a concave inner side having internal teeth 60a togrip the stub shaft 56. This clamp member is formed with a diagonal face600 and 6011, which mate with the diagonal faces 55c and 55d of thecross bar 55, and with a single straight edge 55c, which mates with thestraight edge 55b. On the opposite side of the clamp member a singlediagonal face 60] is formed which mates with the diagonal face 556 ofthe bar 55. The clamp member 60 is formed with an integral hook lug 60g,which engages the upstanding lug 55]: formed on the bar 55. A bolt 61extends through the lower end of the bar 55 and the lower end of theclamp member 60 to lock the clamp member to the bar 55. To prevent theupper ends of the bar 55 and of the clamp member 60 from shiftinglaterally of each other, interlocking lugs are formed on these twomembers. The bar 55 is formed with lugs 55k and 55m, which arestaggered, as shown in Fig. 11. The clamp member 60 is formed withintegral lugs 60k and 60121, which are also staggered, and whichinterlock with the lugs 55k and 55m, and thereby prevent lateraldisplacement of the upper ends of the clamp member and bar 55.

The interlocking engagement between the bar 55 and the clamp member 60,at the upper ends of the two members, a single coupling screw at thelower ends of these members will effectively couple the two partstogether, and at the same time will grip the stud shaft. The member 55is formed with an internal lug or key 55, which is designed to fit inthe keyway 56' of the stub shaft 56.

This construction is particularly useful in making it possible for asingle workman on a high ladder to complete the mounting of the gearmechanism and to connect the associate working parts in place.

By means of the lever and link mechanism the gear mechanism foroperating the lid shaft may be operated distantly from the lid shaft,and the gear boxes may be arranged one above the other. This arrangementalso provides for variable lever operation of the lid shaft, and thisalso permits of the use of a gear mechanism of lower cost, since theleverage of the connecting levers and link reduces the direct loadimposed on the gear mechanism, and a lighter unit can be used.

Having described my invention 1 claim as new:

1. An awning box lid operating mechanism, comprising a plurality ofshaft hangers having U-shaped bearings, each of said hearings having anintegral hook, a shaft mounted in said bearings for rotation, a springmember engaging said hook and retaining said shaft in its bearing, aplurality of lid raising lever arms mounted on the shaft, means forsecuring a lid to said lever arms, a brace bar for each lever arm havingan upper arm pivotally secured to the lever arm and a lower armconnectable to the box lid, and an interfitting connection between theupper end of the brace bar and the lever arm.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1, including an undercut lip oneach lever arm and a bevelled end on each brace bar engaging an undercutlip for securing the brace bar in straight line relation to the leverarm it engages.

3. A lid operating mechanism, comprising an awning housing box having anopen front side, a shaft mounted horizontally on the box and below thetop wall thereof, a lid mounted on the shaft to swing in both directionswith the shaft, a lever arm mounted on the shaft, a gear mechanismhaving a drive shaft provided with a lever arm, a link pivotallyconnecting the lever arms to each other, a mounting support for the gearmechanism, said support including a base having a housing integraltherewith, an arm slidable in the housing and provided with a concaveshaft bearing formed with teeth and with portions extending outwardly onopposite sides thereof, a clamp member having a corresponding concaveshaft bearing and provided with portions extending outwardly thereof inopposite directions, the portions of the two shaft bearings on one sideof the same being provided with interlocking lugs constructed to resistsidewise and lateral displacement, and a screw extending through theremaining portions to secure the clamp member on the arm, and to grip ashaft disposed between the concave shaft bearings.

4. A lid operating mechanism for awning housing boxes, comprising a mainoperating shaft, hangers for supporting the shaft on the box, saidhangars having U- shaped bearings with integral hooks, a spring memberengaged by each hook retaining the shaft in its bearing, a lever armmounted on the shaft, a gear mechanism provided with a drive shafthaving a lever arm mounted thereon, a link connecting the lever arms toeach other to rock the shaft first-named when the gear mechanism isoperated, a plurality of lever arms mounted on the shaft first-named andextending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, a moulded lid attached tothe lever arms and extending below the same, and a brace bar pivotallyconnected with the lower end of each lever arm and havinga lower endsecured to the lower end of the lid, whereby the lid may be rigidlysecured to all lever arms and brace bars.

5. A mounting support for the gear mechanism of an awning box,comprising a base having a base housing integral therewith, an armslidable in the housing and provided with a concave shaft bearing formedwith teeth and with portions extending outwardly on opposite sidesthereof, a clamp member having a corresponding concave shaft bearing andprovided with portions extending outwardly thereof in oppositedirections, the portions of the two shaft hearings on one side of thesame being provided with interlocking lugs constructed to resistsidewise and lateral displacement, and a screw extending through theremaining portions to secure the clamp member on the arm, and to grip ashaft disposed between the concave shaft bearings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,041,671 Reeser Oct. 15, 1912 1,098,821 Michalski June 2, 19141,688,578 Feilcke Oct. 23, 1928 2,192,478 Meeks Mar. 5, 1940 2,216,309Bissell Oct. 1, 1940 2,219,461 Williams Oct. 29, 1940 2,304,960 SchaneDec. 15, 1942 2,528,953 Gzupkaytii Nov. 7, 1950 2,596,605 Scheller May13, 1952

